Christmas Gift Ideas for Exotic and Pocket Pets

Christmas Gift Ideas for Exotic and Pocket Pets

               Holiday gifts for pets are common practice and there are plenty of options for dogs and cats this time of year. But what if you want to spoil your skink or bestow gifts on your bunny? Here are some fun gift options for those not-so-traditional pets!

               Reptiles—Reptiles are popular and they enjoy some pampering too! What about a hammock or climbing branch for your lizard? Most iguanas and bearded dragons enjoy having places to climb in their habitats. Some reptiles like geckos and snakes need places to hide. Maybe a new rock lair such as those sold by Zillla or Exo Terra to spruce up the terrarium? Turtles and tortoises enjoy pushing things around. Small aquatic turtles enjoy items like ping pong balls, large marbles, floating plastic feeding toys like those made by PetSafe or Zoo Med or even bath toys as fun forms of enrichment. Just make sure items are large enough that your turtle can’t swallow them. For larger land tortoises, logs and rocks for climbing, water features and hideaways are great options.

               Rabbits—It’s easy to make toys for your rabbit, though plenty of pre-made options exist, too. Much like cats, rabbits enjoy climbing in and out of paper bags, chewing on things like cardboard (think toilet paper and paper towel rolls) and digging in boxes of shredded paper or straw. Bunnies also like to play with untreated wicker baskets or sisal. Rabbits like to survey their surroundings—toys with ramps and elevated lookouts similar to cat trees are fun choices.  Bunnies also love puzzle toys or foraging mats. Some great options can be found here: https://www.businessinsider.com/best-rabbit-toys.  How about making your own treats for your rabbit? Here’s a fun recipe from the Rabbit House-- http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/2011/12/21/minute-christmas-baking-rabbits/.  Just remember, treats should be fed only on special occasions. Don’t indulge your rabbit too often-overweight rabbits can have a variety of health problems.

               Ferrets—Ferrets are curious and love to play! Hard, sturdy plastic balls and toys for cats or babies make good ferret toys.  Ferrets also love to hide in small soft sleeping bags, hammocks or tents.  You could buy a large PCV pipe or commercial “ferret tube” like the Roundler Small Animal Tunnel for your ferret to climb through.  Avoid toys with small loose pieces and those made of soft rubber. Inspect ferret toys for damage and discard if there are loose strings or if your ferret is chewing off pieces. Ferrets have a knack for swallowing things they shouldn’t and can be prone to intestinal blockage.  For the ultimate ferret toy, consider a small swimming pool or ball pit or a puzzle toy.

               Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Rodents—these small pets are big chewers so any sort of chew toys marketed for pocket pets should be a big hit. Natural wicker or untreated, unpainted woods such as willow, oak or cherry (avoid pine and cedar which are toxic) are great options.  Similar to rabbits and ferrets, cardboard boxes and tubes can be entertaining. These pets also like to have a place to hide so a small house, tent or tunnel makes a great addition to a pocket pet habitat.

               Birds—toys or treats for your bird may need to be tailored to the size and species, but some options include climbing or perching toys, foraging toys, toys made of soft wood or other natural material that can be chewed and shredded or toys made of safe metals like stainless steel such as the Bonka Bird Spoon Delight Bird Toy or YoYoung Stainless Steel Bell Toys. Keep in mind, these may be noisy options! Some birds also like activity centers. Look for natural materials or non-toxic plastics and metals and inspect and remove toys if becoming damaged.

               Hopefully these suggestions spark some gift-giving ideas for your guinea pig, parrot or gecko this Christmas. After all, pets like reptiles, birds and small mammals are just as loved as our canine and feline companions and we enjoy celebrating the holidays with our pets whether they have scales, fur or feathers!

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://aquanswers.com/toys-for-pet-turtles/

https://www.wideopenpets.com/ferret-toys/

https://www.thesprucepets.com/toys-for-ferrets-1236791

https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-guinea-pig-toys-4153931

https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/best-bird-toys/